Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-03-25
THE MERCHANTS LICENSE TAX.
ACTION OF THE sTAUNTON CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE..

| ACTION OF THE sTAUNToN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE.
On Saturday evening last, the Staunton
Chamber of Commerce, Mr.. P. B. Sublett
in the chair, considered the situation
arising from the decision of the U. s.
Court that Drummers could not be taxed
and how it should affect and change the
license law of Virginia. Mr.. Sublett
called attention to the fact that the con-
| stitution of Virginia apparently counte-
I nanced the taxation of merchants on their
business, and not the issuing Of licenses to
them. The first legislature that assembled
after reconstruction adopted that con-
struction, and taxed on sales, but later
legislature finding that this tax did not
support the government, adopted the
! license system.
Mr.. A. e. Gordon then read some reso-
lutions which he had been instructed by
the Committee ON Commerce to prepare, in
which the legislature was petitioned to fix
| the tax on merchants. on their stock instead
, of licensing them. He said the resolutions
were merely introduced to ascertain the
sense OF the Chamber on the matter.
In the discussion which arose Mr.. R..
W. Burke held that the tax should be on
the cash capital invested in the business
and not on the stock. He thought capital
and not the energy of the merchant was
the proper subject of taxation.
Mr.. M. Erskine Miller thought the cash
capital might increase, and the increase
| the tax on stock was possibly the best way
of reaching it.
Mr.. John W. Todd thought the stock
was liable to increase as well as the CAPT.
! tai. What was wanted to get at fer taxa
ton, was the money in the business.
! Mr.. Gordon said the tax on stock was
perhaps the nearest approach to the sys-
| tenn of taxing the land. The land holder
made his profit out of the land, and was
taxed for the value and quantity held,
| and the merchant made his out of his
stock which could be taxed in the Same
way.
Mr.. Todd-If you don't include his
money in the bank with the stock I agree
I with you! If a man buys $40 900 worth of
goods and yet only has 5000 capital it is
| not fair to tax him on his stock. Take the
| case of grain dealer for instance; good
part of the year he has no stock atall. [
| should like to see the law as it was about
| the time Mr.. Stuart was sent to the legis-
| lature.
Mr.. Todd moved that the report be so
amended as to insert the word "capital''
instead of ''stock" wherever the latter
occurred. The motion was agreed to.
and the report of the Committee on Com
merce was then, on motion Of Mr.. Cor
don, seconded by Mr.. Miller, adopted as
amended.
The preamble and resolutions after re-
citing the hardship of the license system
to the home merchant since the recent
decision of the U. S. Supreme Court, con.
clude as follows:
! Whereas. it appears to this Chamber
that this is proper time to obtain from
the Legislature change in the said sys-
tenn of taxation,
Therefore be it resolved, LIST, That it is
the opinion of the Chamber of Commerce
of Staunton that the present system of
taxing merchants on the basis of their
purchases, should, by the Legislature at
the present session, be substituted oy a
| system of taxation based upon the actual
amount of capital invested in trade by the
| merchant.
I'd. That we ask the active co-opera-
tion of the Chambers of Commerce, and
Boards of Trade, and merchants generally,
throughout the State. in urging upon the
General Assembly the necessity of such
legislation during its present session.
On motion of Mr.. Todd the Secretary
was directed to have copies sent to the
other Chambers of Commerce in Virginia,
and to our Senator and Delegates in the
legislature.
On motion of Mr.. Miller the Secretary
was directed to have 1900 copies of the
report printed for general distribution.
| A GRAIN ELEVATOR.
On motion of Mr.. Todd, the Committee
on Commerce was instructed to inquire
into the ACCESSIBILITY of having a grain
elevator here. He had heard that some
of the authorities of the G. & o. road had
said Staunton would probably be assisted
in the enterprise if she went into it.
On motion, Mr.. Todd was requested to
act with the Committee on Commerce in
| this matter.
| Mr.. Gordon reported having sent an ap-
plication for charter for the Chamber,
to the legislature through Mr.. Echols.
| Adjourned.